Robert Butterfield

Robert Vernon Butterfield passed away peacefully at his home in Albuquerque on February 7, 2024 at the age of 90. He was born on August 15, 1933, in Flint, Michigan, the only child of Russell and Margarete Butterfield. He graduated from Maple Grove High School in Chesaning, Michigan and worked his way through General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in Flint, where he earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He proceeded through several plant engineering and operations management positions at General Motors, Ford, Harnischfeger, and Allis Chalmers manufacturing facilities in multiple Midwestern cities, later earning an MBA from the University of Iowa. He moved to El Paso, Texas to become Director of Planning for Harnco, then Executive Vice President of Birmingham Engineering and Marketing Director for Alternative Energy Resources. He finished his career as a financial planner with Prudential Financial, where he specialized in creating employee benefits programs for businesses in El Paso and later in Albuquerque, where he moved in 1985

His life was built on the foundation of family-especially his 67-year marriage to his high school sweetheart Jeanette Weisenberger of Chesaning, MI-and his abiding Catholic faith. He retired in Albuquerque and became a skilled landscape painter and travelled to several countries with family and friends. He loved classical and big band music and the Santa Fe Opera. He was a joyful Christian and was active in several parishes throughout his life. He especially enjoyed his volunteer work for the Society of St. Vincent De Paul and serving as a Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) sponsor. In his later years, he relished multiple family weddings, anniversaries, and other get-togethers, and kept a proud eye on the accomplishments of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren scattered across the country. He was known to all for his grace, humility, good humor, insatiable interest in learning, and celebrating the end of the day with a prayer of thanksgiving and a stiff Manhattan cocktail.

Robert led a richly blessed life and lives on in the hearts of all those fortunate enough to have known him. His primary legacy is his family. He is survived by his loving wife Jeanette; his children Dr. Diane Butterfield (Mark Flessner) of Chicago, IL; Laura Lamberg (Guy) of Milwaukee, WI; William Butterfield(Linda) of Houston, TX; John Butterfield (Ruth) of Dallas, TX; Robert Butterfield, Jr. of Downers Grove, IL; Daniel Butterfield of Albuquerque; and Sarah Hutnyk (James) of Jacksonville, FL; and grandchildren Max Flessner, Christian Flessner, Eleanor Flessner, Morgan Hanrahan, Evan Lamberg, Shannon Siegel, Jessica Clemens, Morgan Galloway, Meg Butterfield, Stephanie Burke, Jack Butterfield, Kate Banglesdorf, James Butterfield, Alec Butterfield, and Lucy and Lily Hutnyk; and 12 great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am on Friday, February 23, 2024 at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Albuquerque. The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul of Albuquerque or to their favorite charity in Robert's name.